The Hero’s Journey

No. This is not “how I ordered that really good sandwich from Jimmy Johns and it took over an hour for the dork to deliver

it.”

The Epic Poem

• A long poem..• Told in elevated

language• About the exploits of a

hero• That celebrates the

values of a particular culture.

The Epic Poem

• Begins with an “invocation to the muse”• Involves supernatural forces• Grand setting – impressive, covers a lot of

territory• Often culminates in a massive battle “between

good and evil”• And then there’s that hero…

If you’ve been to the movies…You know what a hero goes through.

Think Luke, Frodo, Neo, Harry Potter…

What do they all have in common? (Apart from the XY chromosome

pattern, which I feel is patently unfair. Let’s face it – if we can carry the babies for nine months, go through labor, and raise them, we are certainly hero material. Am I right?)

Definition

• A hero is a figure who • faces the challenges feared by • and displays the virtues/traits valued by• a culture• thus ensuring that culture’s survival.

A Hero’s Qualities

• Supernatural ability/talisman

• Young, untried• Charged with a quest• Inner flaw• Special weapon?• “Unhealable wound”• Has a guide/mentor…

Stages of the Quest – “Separation, initiation, return” (Joseph Campbell)

• Called to adventure -- refuses• Leaves “comfort zone”, for

supernatural world • Supernatural help• Completes first challenge

(yaaay!)• And falls flat on face (ka-thunk…)• Things get bad (the “belly of the

whale…”• But bravely keeps going…(if it

was easy, he wouldn’t be a hero…)

We aren’t done yet• IS TEMPTED!!!!!• But obviously “just says no.”

Duh. (unless you’re Odysseus)

• Loses father/wise guide…(reunited?)

• SUCCESS!• (but not without some

sacrifice)• And goes home…• …but can we ever go home

again?